Two BBC Radio full-cast dramas from the master of classic crime

Anthony Berkeley was a journalist, novelist, and founding member of the Detection Club - whose members included Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers - and was one of crime fiction's greatest innovators, developing the idea of the psychological crime novel in the 1920s and 30s. One of his recurring and most-beloved characters was Roger Sheringham, a novelist and amateur detective.

In these two classic tales, Roger Sheringham must investigate two terrible murders: The Poisoned Chocolates Case, from 1929, sees him taking up the challenge when Scotland Yard admits defeat after months of investigations. How was a woman poisoned by a box of chocolates that weren't even intended for her? Who was the intended victim? And who was the terrible mind behind it? Roger and his amateur detective friends will each have a turn to put forward their own personal theories about the dreadful crime...

In Jumping Jenny, written in 1933, Roger attends a party with the questionable theme 'famous murderers and their victims', only to discover that one difficult guest has been deliberately killed on one of the party's props. When Roger suspects one of his close friends may be involved, he decides to meddle in the evidence - but is he putting his own life at risk with this mischievous intervention?

Witty, subversive, and fiercely clever, these wonderful crime mysteries by the renowned writer are just the thing for fans of The Lady Detectives, Maigret's Collected Cases, and Dashiell Hammett: The Maltese Falcon and other Adventures.

Cast and credits

The Poisoned Chocolates Case

Roger Sheringham - Neil Stacy
Mrs Fielder-Flamming - Hilda Schroder
Sir Charles Wildman - Conrad Phillips
Moresby - Victor Winding
Chitterwick - Michael Bilton
Bradley / Smithson - Geoffrey Collins
Alicia - Jane Wenham
Lockwood - William Eedle
Bendix - Mark Straker
Sir Eustace - Clive Panto
Mrs Bendix - Eileen Tully
Marguerite - Deborah Cranston

Novel by Anthony Berkeley
Dramatised by Neville Teller
Directed by Brian Miller

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 14 January 1984

Jumping Jenny

Ronald Stratton - Trevor Martin
Roger Sheringham - Hugh Burden
Colin Nicolson - Simon Lack
Dr Philip Chalmers - Hamilton Dyce
Laura Chalmers - Judy Bailey
Ena Stratton - Joan Newell
David Stratton - John Scott
Osbert Williams - Philip Cunningham
Agatha Lefroy - Monica Kirton
Dr Frank Mitchell - David Bird
Margot - Sheila Manahan
Mrs Williams - Molly Rankin
Inspector Crane - Keith Williams
Coroner - Richard Williams

Novel by Anthony Berkeley
Adapted by H. Oldfield Box
Produced by David H. Godfrey

First broadcast on BBC Home Service, 14 November 1959

NB: Due to the age of this recording, the sound quality may vary.